Public Service Announcement: Don't Fool With Volcanoes.

And we're back.  Following years of me not posting anything, my faithfully non-existent readers need wait no longer.  Why now?  I can't really explain that.  My son is back to school.  I can think again.  And I feel like it.  We'll see how long that lasts.  But right now, I'm just shooting for one post.  It's possible I might not finish it.

But where was I.  I have a very important ANNOUCEMENT.  Which is, you don't want to mess with volcanoes!  They will kill you.  How do I know?  I just finished reading Fire Mountains of the West and I learned a lot of interesting things.  There has been much new research lately on the Cascade volcanoes, with the conclusion that even the ones we thought were relatively safe generally are not.  Sure, there are some truly extinct volcanoes in the Cascades.  But generally, all the really large volcanoes in Washington are just waiting for a chance to kill us.  If you're in a river valley downslope from a volcano, consider yourself dead.

So, why haven't they killed us yet?  Well, I suppose theories abound, but my belief is they are waiting for the right moment.  As soon as all the important river valleys are densely populated, then the volcano will strike.  What does it mean when you're excavating to build a house 40 miles from Mt. Rainier and find semi-mummified tree stumps buried in ash and mud?  It means don't buy that house.  Unless you want to be dead.

Who in the Northwest doesn't love Mt. Rainier?  It's so iconic.  It's just always there.  And it's fun to visit.  I was just on a hike there less than two weeks ago.  Tra-la-la, I said to myself.  (Actually, that was where I bought this book). Well I have news for you.  Mt. Rainier is an ACTIVE VOLCANO.  And not just any volcano - it is, in fact, AMERICA'S MOST DANGEROUS VOLCANO!!!!  Watch out for Mt. Rainier.  (Mt. St. Helens must be jealous.  Did we have to make it angry?)

What else should we watch out for?  Well, Mt. Baker could easily kill all those Dutch Reformed people in Lynden.  Then you have Mt. Shasta.  Geologists now know that it has been very active in recent times, and it's only a matter of time before it reawakens.  Mt. Shasta is truly a disaster waiting to happen, since there are several large towns/small cities (depending on your perspective) right at the base of it.  These people should all move.  Now.  Also, I-5 is doomed.  When Mt. Shasta wakes up, stay away!

This is why we live in Sequim: no volcanoes.  I suppose an ashfall could get us if the wind is blowing the wrong way.  But we ought to survive that.  The only major natural disaster likely to get us here is the next big subduction-zone earthquake.

In conclusion, volcanoes will kill you.  This concludes this public service announcement.  You're welcome.